Thursday, August 20, 2015

A SONDHEIM CABARET

A SONDHEIM CABARET
Proms Chamber Music at the Cadogan Hall

17.08.2015


Even in Sloane Square, Monday lunchtime is not the ideal slot for sophisticated cabaret, but if anyone could bring it off it would be Richard Sisson, pianist, composer and for many years the Widow.
He was the curator and host of this delightful tribute to Stephen Sondheim on his 85th birthday, and brought a wonderfully diverse team of talents to the Cadogan Hall stage.
Here's Jamie Parker, in his second Proms appearance this season, trying to stay calm as he tinkles Sisson's ivories, and seducing Kitty Whately Into The Woods. They're together again on the intimate chaise longue in Barcelona, and for Too Many Mornings. Even a little ironic hoofing in Rain on the Roof, also from Follies.
Anthony Brown played two contrasting sax solos – By the Sea and Send in the Clowns from A Little Night Music. Sian Phillips, a memorable Madame Armfeldt twenty years ago, revived those sepia memories in a moving evocation.
After the whole company joined in Sunday [in the Park with George], there was a lovely encore: Goodbye for Now from the movie Reds.
And those of us in the hall heard Richard Sisson and presenter Petroc Trelawny giving us some scraps from the Instructions to the Audience from Frogs, which also featured in the Sondheim Prom of 2010 …

As for applause, please,
When there's a pause, please,
Although we welcome praise,
The echo sometimes lasts for days…


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